The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:

"claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")

"claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")

"hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)

This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:

They don't notify winners by email.

You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.

They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.

They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.

They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.

They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.

They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!

This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.

+31644893520 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.

paulmartel5@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

CONTACT: FOR YOUR PRIZE YOU WON
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THE LOTTERY.
REF Number: ICB/231-ILGI0431/06
Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of the Second Category draws of THE LOTTO NL PROMO INT. We are happy to inform you that you have emerged a winner under the First Category, which is part of our promotional draws.

The draws are being officially announced today 7th November 2006. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, and Oceania as part of our International Promotions Program.
Your e-mail address, attached to ticket number 20511465463-7655, with serial number 472-9768-79 drew the lucky numbers 8-66-97-22-65-55 and consequently won in the First Category. You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of $4,500,000,00 (Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars), which is the winning payout for Category A winners.
This is from a total cash prize of $25,000,000.00 (Twenty Five Million Dollars) shared amongst the first Ten (10) lucky winners in this category
CONGRATULATIONS ! ! !
Your fund is now deposited with the paying Bank.
In your best interest to avoid mix up of numbers and names of any kind, we request that you keep the entire details of your award strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your claims has been completed, and your funds remitted to your account.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants/nonparticipants of this program.
Please contact your claim agent officer (International Remittance Dept)immediately for due processingand remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice:
NOTE: For easy reference and identification, find below your Reference and Batch numbers. Remember to quote these numbers in your correspondence with claims agent
REF Number: ICB/231-ILGI0431/06
BATCH No: EOS/15/096/TVFS
TICKET No:20511465463-7655
SERIAL No:472-9768-79
LUCKY No:8-66-97-22-65-55
To claim your funds, please contact your claim officer .
Contact person:
QUAD CRUISE NL
Name: Paul Martel
Phone:+31 644 893 520
Email:paulmartel5@aim.com
You are advice to provide him with the following information:
1. NAME IN FULL:........................
2. ADDRESS:.............................
3. NATIONALITY:.........................
4. AGE:.................................
5. OCCUPATION:..........................
6. PHONE/FAX:...........................
7.COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE..................
Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.
Yours Faithfully,
Walter Jones.
Lottery Coordinator.
N.B: All claims are nullified after 15 working days from today.